Cord-fastener and label-holder for mail-bags



(No Model.) r

A. J. GILLESPIE.

00111) FASTENER AND LABEL HOLDER FOR MAIL BAGS.

No. 375,871. Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

N. PiTERSuFholo'Lilhogmphen Wnhin lon. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED J. GILLESPIE, OF ATLANTIC, IOWVA.

CORD-FASTENER AN D LABEL-HOLDER FOR MAIL-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,871, dated January 3, 1888.

Application tiled Drcrmber J. 1887. Seii:1l1\'o.256,827. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, ALFRED J. GILLEsPIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Cord- Fastener and Label-Holder for Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement consists, essentially, of a metal box or case, through which the cords are passed, and having a sliding roller placed between them, by which means they are com pressed against the side walls of the case, which are converging in the direction of the bag. A button-headed stem projects from the roller through a slot in the case, by which it is controlled, and the case attached to the reverse side of a labelholder, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings hereunto attached, Figure 1 is a view of the label side. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reverse side with cord-fastener. Fig. 3 is a view in crosssection; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, both sectional views being through the sliding roller.

The labelholder, Fig. 1, is made, preferably, by folding together the long edges of a metal plate of proper shape and forming an eye, I), at one end for the purpose of attaching to the bag. The corners of the other end having been removed, the plate is bent at right angles, forming a flange, c, Fig. 4, to prevent the loss of the label. I

The cord-fastener consists of a tapering metal case, d, Fig. 2, having a longitudinal slot, e, and is securely attached to the reverse side of the label-holder, Fig. 2. Through the case (1 the cords are passed, and between them is placed a sliding roller, f, as shown in part by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and its stem 9 pro- 0 jectedthrough the slot e, by which means it is controlled. It will readily be seen that in this construction the cords, being drawn in the direction of the smaller end of the case, will carrythe rollers along and compress them against the converging walls, and thus lock them. Being drawn in the opposite direction, they will carry the roller to the opposite end and afford an easy passage. The advantage of the slidingroller is that it has little friction or resistance except its contact with the cords, the edge of the roller being grooved. This being the case, the movement of the cords in either direction carries it along very promptly and either locks or unlocks with unfailing certainty and automatically as well. It also enables any unequal strain on the cords to equalize while being tightened; also, pulling a single cord serves to tighten both, whereas in a wedge it will tend to slip. Furthermore, it is extremely simple in construction, much lighter than a wedge, and atfords a straight, smooth, and easy passage for the cords, and requires no serrated surfaces to prevent slipping, and therefore does not rebate or cut the surfaces. No spring or crooked cordways are requiredto secure prompt action, and it contains the smallest number of pieces possible. The free passage of the cords and the action of the roller effectually prevent any accumulation of lint or dirt to interfere with its operation.

To operate it the device is preferably attached to the bag by means of a cord or wire placed through the eye I). The cords from the bag are passed through the cordway in the case d and drawn until the bag is closed, when the resulting effort of the cords to re turn will carry the roller by contact toward the smaller end and lock them, as before shown. To open, the cords are drawn asbefore, which will release the locked condition, when the roller is held against the opposite end of the slot e and the bag is drawn open in the usual manner. The label is inserted under the folded edges of the holder, and is prevented from dropping out by the flange c, Fig. 4. To remove it the label is slid against the flange and caught by the exposed corner a, Fig. 1, raised above the flange, and withdrawn. This construction enables the label to be inserted at the outer end of the holder.

Label-holders with cord-fasteners attached are not new; neither are locking devices having converging walls and containing amovable pulley with serrated edge for compress ing the cords, together with a spring working therewith; but I am not aware that any selflocking device has ever been made consisting of a tapering case having no spring and con- .taining a roller with grooved edge and adapted to both slide and roll, as herein described, for the purpose of locking the cords.

In a mail-bag cord-fastener andlabel-holder, stantially as described. the combination of the tapering ease having 3 4 a longitudinal slot therein, a peripherally- ALFRED GILLESl 5 grooved roller arranged and adapted to roll Witnesses:

and slide within the case,and having a headed H. O. HALL, stem projected through the slot in the case, HENRY L. ROSE, and a flanged label-holder, to the reverse side 0. P. CLARK.

of which the tapering case is attached, sub- 

